You just landed a wonderful listing. Congratulations! It’s a tough market right now, but the home is in a good neighborhood and with just a little work it may be sold in a couple weeks.
Then you actually start working with the client. This client is motivated to sell the house, but is completely unwilling to raise a hand to help you stage, show or sell the home.
They want to move because they already have a new house. They don’t want to organize, paint or be bothered with “the old house” and they don’t believe it matters. Your suggestions are meeting with resistance and you get the distinct impression that your recommendation that they paint the dark blue entryway a lighter color is… well… rude.
You don’t want to upset the client, but you can’t engage them in the project. You need them to be cooperative. How do you achieve that goal?
In three easy steps… Continue reading »
Tags:
staging,
working with sellers
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Today the kitchen has lost its position as the “heart of the home” that it enjoyed in generations past. According to a 2004 report on dining out, single professionals eat over 50% of their meals away from home. And, in recent trends data… the NationalRestaurant Association (NRA) reports that restaurant sales will rise nearly twelve-fold from the 1970 figure of $42.8 billion to a whopping $511.1 billion this year!
So, where does this leave you when you are trying to show a home? It makes it essential that you outline the ideal kitchen and help your listing clients ensure that their kitchen shows well.
Yes, some people are gourmet cooks, some families still eat dinner together every night, and some individuals consider their kitchen the only real place to “congregate with friends.” But many homeowners eat out more often than they cook at home. Add to that the number of meals that are “delivered” and the number that are eaten “en route” to work and school… and you may find that the kitchen has taken a back seat when you are showing a home. Continue reading »
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get organized,
staging,
working with sellers
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As a real estate agent, technology is important to you. You use it every day to conduct
business, do research, access potential clients and to communicate. You know technology use is growing. What you may NOT know is that technology and home offices are quite possibly one of the biggest selling points a house can offer.
While family size is still declining, the number of people working full-time or part-time from home (and those executives that need full-office access from home) is on the rise. Continue reading »
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staging,
working with sellers
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Ok, you have been in real estate long enough to have endured a few listings that you would
rather NOT have landed. Let’s call them ugly ducklings, shall we? Now, how do you market them? Here’s how you can invite people to recognize their potential and help the homebuyer see them as a swan! In the same way we make lemonade when life deals lemons, you can find something good about any property – no matter how flat it may seem at first glance.
It’s not just tiny homes or homes “out-of-step” with the neighborhood that need special care. In fact, I’ve helped market multi-million dollar listings with bedrooms that left me astounded.
“THAT is the master bedroom? The bedroom in my first apartment was nicer!” My solution? I don’t mention the master bedroom. Instead, I highlight the triple-sized whirlpool with adjustable jet streams in the master bathroom with the marble steps and the heated towel racks. Accentuate the positive and simply ignore the negative.
In smaller, less dramatic homes, you may need to create positives by altering your potential buyer’s perspective. You may not have the luxury of ignoring difficult features. And, it’s not a matter of sticking the term “handyman’s dream” or “fixer-upper” on it and calling the marketing plan complete. Nor, is it convincing the seller to list it below market value, so you have a chance of turning it over quickly.
Remember, every home has something charming about it. It’s your job to find that “something” and frame it attractively for display through your marketing approach. Here are a few tips to do just that:
Continue reading »
Tags:
marketing,
staging,
working with sellers
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